Car roof



C. E. WALTER CM! ROOF Filed Feb. 7, `1921 l 2 Shasta-Shut 2 v l iff 777--ro @Nq/J Patented Dec. l, 1925.

1,5@Lii3l UNlTElD 4S'lATES PATENT QFFICE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES E. Vinnfrne, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and 5 State of iflhio,have invented a certain new and useful lmproveinent in Car Roofs, ofwhich the following is a` full, clear, and exact description, reference.being had to the accompanyi ng drawings.

This invention is directed to improvements in railroad car constructionand is particularly concerned with novel means for roofing freight cars.

Considerable diliiculty has been experienced heretofore in constructinga railroad freight car which would fulfill the loading requirements andat the same time withstand the distortions and strains caused by theshifting of the various classes of freight carried therein. Thecharacteristics of freight loads are so extensive in nature that afreight car construction which would be ideal for withstanding thcticular load. as for instance, grain, sand, etc., would be entirelyinadequate to witlistand a load in which the weights thereof wereunequally distributed in the car. sequently, the builders of modern carshave developed car frames which may expand, contract or deflect to alimited extent under certain conditions.

To meet the requirements of a practical car roof construction it isquite essential that the roof be composed of noncorrosive metallicsheets of such size as to permit of their ready handling by the crirbuilder. further requirement is that the individual members, theaggregate of which compose the roof, must be relatively movable whilebeingl maintained in relative position by weatherproof joints.

Villierefore, the general object oi" my invention is to provide a carroofhaz'ing flexible characteristics and which will remain weatherproofirrespective of any lateral and longitudinal distortion or deflect carbody. vide a standard 'li-ex A more speelde object to pro CHARLES E.WALTER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CAR ROOF.

Application filed February '7, 1921. Serial No. M2390.

durability 'that may be easily applied to any make of freight carwithout necessitating the use of specialparts.

Other objects include the provision of means for securing such a roof toa car body which will not restrict the relative shifting or weavingmotion of the roof and car body.

Another object is to provide a roof' construction wherein theconstituent members may be properly ventilated under all weatherconditions and which will likewise permit free circulation of airtherethrough.

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of the individualroof members whereby all the foregoing objects may be rattained withouthaving nail perforations through the exposed surfaces thereof that maydevelop leaks when the car body is strained in rounding curves while intransit, or when being switched from place to place at the railroadterminals.

@ther objects will become apparent as I proceed with a description ofthe accomiianying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the essential characteristics being summarized in the claims.1

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective representation of a car bodywith my roof construction affixed thereon, while F ig. 2 is afragmentary plan view of a part of the roof and running boards, whileFig. 3 is a section through the ridge-beam of the car along the line 3-3of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of the cave-beam andsheet members taken along the planes ll-4s and 5-5 respectively of Fig:l, while llig. 6 is a transverse section along the line G-G of Fig. 2.Fig. l is an end perspective view of the roof, while Fig. 8 .is aperspective view of an anchor-bloei; hereinafter described.l Fig. 9 is alongitudinal Lection through the center or ridge-beam of the car, whilel0 is a bottom perspective view of an end saddle-block, and Fig. 'ilshows a top plan view of the intersection of four adjacent roof sheetsat the ridge pole hie roof of sufficient 'with the ridge cap omitted.

rains of a par- Goniof the Gil l have found that a car roof of the unitconstruction type may be made flexible by having trough strips extendingtransversely of the car roof over which the ends of the roof sheetsterminate.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, in Fig. 1 1 have shown aroof comprised substantially of sectional sheet members 11 resting onthe roof boards 11a disposed on each side of the ridge-beam 33 andterminating thereover in the tapered flange portions 12, the outer edges12a of which are adapted to rest in contact on the inner surface 14 ofthe ridge-cap 13 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. of these sheets are bent toform U-shaped loops 15, which are adapted to surround similar invertedloops 1b formed onthe drain strip 1? as shown in Fig. 6; both loopsbeing proportioned to provide air spaces 18, 1%), 2O and 21therebetween. The purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafterreferred to. rl`he eave-ends 22 of these roof sheets are bent downwardlyand inwardly forming projecting flanges 23, while the eave-ends 24 ofthe drain strip l? are lil-rewise bent inwardly in a similar manner;both being disposed within the loop portion 25 of the side flashing 26.This flashing, which extends along the eave the'full length of the carbody, may have an upwardly projecting portion 27 against which the eaveends of the roof boards 11a may abut, with suitable notches cut thereinto permit the extended portion 29 of the drain strip 17 to extendtherethrough. It is desirable that the end 23 of the roof sheeting 11should lie in a different plane within the loop portion 25 of theflashing Q6 than the turned-in end 24 of the drain strip. I prefer tohave these overlapping and underlapping portions spaced from each otherin such a manner that any distortions or displacements which may takeplace between the drain strip, the roof sheeting or the side fiashingwill not cause them to come in contact with each other.

The drain strip 17 which is of a channel construction is preferablyextended the full width of the car from eave to eave, the strips beingbent at the ridge-beam to conform to the roof slopes with each endterminating in the side flashings in the manner as hereinbeforedescribed.

have shown the ridge-cap 13 as being secured to the ridge-beam of thecar by means of the saddle-blocks 30, which are arranged to span theridge cap, the sides of the roof sheeting andthe drain strip. rlhesesaddle-blocks are secured to the ridgebeams by anchor bolts 31, theheads 31n of which are removably secured to the anchor blocks 32, whichmay be secured to the ridge-beam 33 by any appropriate means such as thebolts 34. These anchor blocks The side edgesV may be manufactured fromany suitable meta-l, such as malleable iron, with a cored slot 35 andsaucer shaped depression 3G adapted to receive the anchor bolt heads 3F.way 37 located in the underside of the block through which the drainstrip 17 is adapted to pass, as shown in Fig. 8.

,is the length of the different freight cars varies, it is essentialthat the end roof sheet members 39 be of such shape as to provide forthese variations, and I, therefore, have arranged this end constructionin sucl a manner that the end member 39 is of si cient length that thetotal width of two of these end members will equal a idth of the roofsheet l1, and by so doing it is possible to apply this form of roofingto any length of car without necessitating the construction of specialend members. 'the surplus length of the end members, if there be any,may be cut oli". These end members may likewise serve asy end flashings,whereupon the portion 42 may be secured directly to the car body member43 in the usual manner, while the portion 4() of the end roof sheet mayterminate in a U-shaped loop disposed beneath the side loops 40a oftheroof sheet member 11 as illustrated in Fig. 9.

lt is quite essential, however, that the ridge-beam may be used as asecuring means for holding the roof portions of these end members inplace, and l, therefore, provide an end saddle block 44 of suchconstruction that it likewise may serve as a clamp for the end of theridge-cap 13, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10; the end of the ridge-cap beingclosed by bending the sides thereof inwardly to provide a sealed end 13btherefor. This block is recessed on the under side in such a manner thatit may serve to clamp the outer surface of the ridge cap and the closedend 13b thereof and also the roof surfaces of the end roof sheeting 39.r)The running boards 54 which may be secured to the saddle-blocks 30 mayalso serve as a securing means for maintaining the end saddle-blocks 44in position. The center ruiming board 54 may also servo as a weathershield for tne anchor bolt 31.

The roof may be applied to a car body as follows:

The car may first be measured to determine the number of sections to beused, the width of these sections corresponding to the wir th of one ofthe roof. sheets 11 plus the width of the space 45. One cave flashingmay then be secured to the car body along one side while the other maybe secured in place as the end of each drain strip is bent therein. inend strip of the proper width may then be laid directly upon the purlins4G, ridge beam and eave beams 33a. Sufficient roof beards 11n may thenbe secured I prefer to have a recessed passageto the purlins 46 andridge beam 33 with their eave ends abutting the portion 27 of the sideflashing 26. A drain strip is then laid directly upon the purlins andbeams, transversely of the car with sufficient spaces 46a between thesides of the boards and drain strips, to provide a Ventilating mediumfor the interior of the car, after which the succeeding series of roofboards may be laid with the proper number' of drain strips uniformlyinterspersed therebetween and at the finishing end the other end stripmay be secured directly to the beams and purlins.

The roof sheets 1l are then laid directly on the roof boards by matchingthe U-shaped ends thereof with the U-shaped sides of the drain stripsand slid thereover toward the centre of the car until the flangeportions 1Q of the roof sheets are uniformly spaced from the center ofthe ridge beams, with the flanged portions 23 terminating within theside flashing loop 25. The anchor-blocks 3Q may then be mounted directlyupon the ridge beam ast-ride the drain strips with the center of eachblock superposed on the center of each drain strip.. The heads of theanchor bolts 3l may then be inserted in the anchor blocks with suitablemetallic lock strips 48 securing the bolts therein. These lock stripsmay have indented surfaces 48a surrounding the bolt openingscorresponding to the recessed portion 36 of the anchor block 32 and areadapted to fit therein after which the sides of these metallic stripsmay then be bent downwardly along the sides of the anchor block, therebymaintaining the bolts in a central position relative to the ridge-beam.The ridge-cap 13 may then be placed along the ridge of the roof with thesides lllthereof in contact with the outer portions of all of. thetapered flanges l2 on the roof sheet ll. Surrounding the bolt holes inthe ridge cap I have also provided indented areas 51 similar to theindented portion 48a on the lock strips 48.

The anchor blocks may be secured upon the ridge cap and roof sheets bythe nuts 49 and washers 50 and anchor bolts 31, after which the runningboards may be secured directly to the saddle blocks, the end saddleblocks seing secured to the ruiming` boards near the ends thereof andsuperposed directly over the ends of the ridge cap.

By thus assembling the roof, I am enabled to provide a roof surfacewhich has no openings or perforations exposed to the weather, the anchorbolt 3l being covered by the center running board, and any water whichnia); seep under the board and down the bolt 3l will he trapped by theindented portions 5l and 43 surrounding the openings of the anchorbolts, whereupon the water seeping through and passing downwardly alongthe anchor bolt, may be restricted lio these areas from which it mayseep through into the slotted portion 35 in the anchor-block and therebybe guided directly into the drain strip disposed thereunder and out tothe eaves of the car. Furthermore, by omitting the anchor bolts on theend saddle blocks, l have no openings whatsoever in the metallicsurfaces of the ends of the ridge cap.

It is also to be seen that by having the inwardly extending flanges 24and 23 on the drain strip and roof sheeting respectively, disposedwithin looped portion 25 of the side flashing 26, seepage is preventedfrom reaching the interior of the car, as the drain strips extend beyondthe cave ends of the roof boards and drain the U-shaped portions 21 ofthe roof sheet members ll and by having these roof sheets extendslightly beyond the eave ends of the drain strips, l obtain an area-way56 extending longitudinally of the car which is open to ventilationunder all circumstances and which provides an inner drainage way for thefree movement of any water therein.

Likewise by providing the spaces 18, 19,

2O and 21 between the sides of the roof sheeting and drain strips, Iassure ample ventilation of all the roof members and by so doing preventany sweating of condensation of moisture on the vsurfaces thereof whichwould otherwise start active corrosion. Also by providing sufficientspace between the flashing and drain strips, moisture which may seepthereunder, is prevented from penetrating to the interior of the car bymeans of the loop portion 25 of the end flashing 26, while adequatespace is provided to permit the ventilation thereof and which,finfthermore, will dry out any n'loisture present therein.

l have found that by providing the opening a6@ comn'iunicating with thedrain strip and the interior of the car, the formation of condensationand consequent corrosion may be prevented as an active air circulationis created therebetween.

At the corners of the root' the flashing may be folded down and under asshown atl 57, Fig. 7 with the end roof sheet 39 disposed thereover.

It is also to be understood that by providing the tapered flangeportions l2, adjacent to and in pivotal contact with the sides of theridge cap, the roof sheet may always be maintained in proper position,irrespective of any shifting of the roof boards thereunderand with thefurther provision of sufficient space along the eaves between theturned-in heads of. the roof sheets and the looped portion of the sidefiashing, a lateral shifting of the roof sheets towards and away fromthe ridge-beam may also taire place without dan'iage thereto. AI havealso provided for a shifting movement of the drain strip in that thereare no nails CIL ' w ardly or bolts used to secure these strips to ihepurlins or beams,'the strips being permitted to shift about toward 'andaway from the center of the carv or to pivot or rotate about theridge-beam as conditions may require. It is likewise apparent that theends of the ridge cap may beI spaced a sufficient distance away from thelast roof sheet meinbers to provide for ventilation as well as for ashifting movement of these roof sheets without causing a rubbing of thenietallic surfaces, which would otherwise re- ;-nove the protectivecoating of the surfaces and hasten corrosion. [i further advantage inthe use of my in vention is that if any element of the roof becomesimpaired in any mannerit is possible to replace the same withoutremoving the entire roof. lj.' thus arranging the individual members tobe of uniform size it is possible to adapt this type of roof to any typeor size of car, the variations in the length being )rovided for, in thatthe end members are always of suficient width to cover any fractionalparts of the roof, which may not be covered by the standard roof sheets.

Furthermore, I have provided a flexible metallic roof in which there areno projections or protruding parts along the roof surface upon which atrainman might stumble or fall.

I claim:

l. In a car roof, the combination of roof sheets disposed transverselyof the car body with uniform spacings therebetween and terminating atthe ridge thereof, wooden sheathing therebeneath, drain strips extendingtransversely of the car with the edges thereof disposed beneath theedges of the roof sheathingl below the plane thereof, and means,including a ridge cap and saddle blocks, for movably securing saidsheets to the car body.

2. In a ear roof the combination of roof sheets having downwardly andupwardly extending flanges respectively, drain strips disposedtransversely of the car below the plane of said roof sheets and havingupextending side flanges, wooden sheathing beneath the roof sheets andintermediate of the drain strips, and means positioned at the ridge ofthe roof for flexibly securing the roof sheets to the car body,including a ridge cap adapted to be maintained in juxtaposition totheupwardly extending flanges on said roof sheets.

3. In a car roof, the combination of roof sheets having' downwardlyextending side flanges formed into U-shaped loops extending from ridgeto eave and upwardly and downwardly projecting end flanges respectivelyadapted to be yieldably enclosed by a ridge cap member and an eaveflashing member respectively and weather-proofing means including drainmembers having upwardly extending-side flanges disposed within the sideflanges of the roof sheets and end flanges disposed within loopedportions of ea've flashings extending longitudinally of the car body.

4. In a car roof, the combination of roof sheets, wooden sheathingtherebeneath, eave flashings, and drain strips extending transversely ofthe car and disposed between portions of the wooden sheathing, saiddrain strips having flanged ends adapted to be disposed within loopedportions of the eave flashings extending longitudinally of the car body.

In a car roof, the combination of roof sheets uniformly spaced apart andhaving flanged periineters, drain strips disposed between said sheetsand means adapted to llexibly retain the roof sheets in relativeposition, said means including an anchor block, ridge vcap and a saddleblock, and said saddle block and anchor block being connected by ananchor bolt.

6. In a car roof. the combination of roof sheets havinga relativefreedom ot movement, drain strips disposed between said roof sheetsextending from eave to eave of the car, anchor blocks provided with apassage, which block rotatively secures said drain strip to the car,ridge caps Aspanning the ridge ends of said sheets and said anchorblock, a ruiming board saddle secured to the anchor block by a bolt,said ridge cap and anchor block provided with indented perforations forsaid bolt whereby 'water is directed into said passage and drain strip.

7. In a ear roof, the combinationof roof sheets having a relativefreedom of movement, a ridge cap adapted to coact with flanged portionson said roofsheets to maintain thenrin relative position, drain stripsdisposed between the roof sheets, means for securing the ridge cap tothe car body including an anchor member positioned at the ridge of thecar body and over the drain strips and an anchor bolt adapted to coactwith a saddle block bearing upon the ridge cap, said ridge cap andanchoring members being arranged to drain any moisture on the anchorbolt into the drain strip.

8. In a car roof comprising a framing of purlins and carlines, drainstrips extending from eave to eave resting upon and rotatively securedto said framing adjacent its center, roofing boards secured to saidframing between said drain strips, and roof sheets extending` from theridge to the eave of the car, resting upon said roofing boards andpivoted to the car at its ridge, said roof sheets, drain strips androofing boards normally spaced apart from each other to permitventilation and relative movement between these parts.

9. In a carroof comprising a framing of purlins and carlines, drainstrips extending :troln eeve to euve resting upon and rotative- 10. In aear roof comprising a framing of l0 1y secured to said framing adjacentits cene Purline and earlines, and drain strips exter, rooling boardssecured to said framing tei'iding,` from eave to eave resting upon andbetween said drain strips, and roof sheets rotatively secured to saidframing adjacent extending from the ridge to the eave of the its center.

car resting upon said roong boards, said In testimony whereof, Ihereunto aIiX 15 roof sheets, drain strips and roofing boards mysignature.

arranged to permit ventilation and relative movement between theseparts. CHARLES E. WALTER.

